Despite the fact that a will can provide a number of advantages, approximately 55 percent of Americans do not have one.

This situation is even more prevalent among younger adults. Only one in six people between the ages of 18 and 40 actually have a will.

Obviously, there are a number of reasons why people do not have a will. Whether they are keeping up with their family, their job or other interests, everyone is looking for ways to spend more time doing what they love. As a result, many people look for an easy way to save both time and effort.

However, there are some things in life that really do require special attention.

Today, online services have made life much easier. Many people use websites to do their taxes or even try and diagnose an illness, but we understand these services have limitations.

These services simply do not offer the same amount of attention to detail or a complete understanding of a situation that an actual doctor or accountant can provide.

As one can imagine, online services are only best suited for drafting basic and general legal documents. These services are unable to apply the law to your particular situation, draw any legal conclusions or review your answers for legal sufficiency.

Because each state’s laws are different, it is important to know specifically what Georgia’s laws are before drafting a document like a will. However, if you were to use an attorney, you would have the peace of mind that you were receiving legal advice specific to Georgia’s laws.

Rather than providing information specific to your unique circumstances, online services resort to listing general information. However, these services fail to recognize that not everyone’s situation is the same.

An attorney is able to provide specialized attention to the issues that matter the most to you and your family. With an attorney, both you and your attorney are able to ask detailed questions to clarify what is the best for your particular situation.

Whether you would like to leave all your prized possessions to an individual or specifically leave an individual out of your will, an attorney can help.

In addition, mistakes can happen much more easily with online services. The burden is placed on you, the person filling out the forms, to determine whether or not you have correctly provided all the required information.

Unfortunately, with a legal document like a will, mistakes generally will not be caught until after a person dies. This can already be such a stressful time for a family, and adding legal issues with a will is the last thing that anyone wants to deal with.

Further, with online services, there is rarely anyone to follow up with to see if a will should be updated due to a recent change in one’s life.

Life changes often take place in the structure of one’s family. Whether it involves a birth, adoption, marriage or a death, the structure of a family is always changing. In addition, one may have experienced a substantial increase or decrease in the value of their estate.

Whether they bought or sold a major asset or even started a new business venture, it is important to account for this new situation. Accordingly, it is important to follow up with an attorney to see if you need to update your will following these major life events.

Therefore, hiring an experienced attorney, who can outline your wishes, is only to your advantage. Whether you are 18 years old or 80 years old, it is never too early or too late to create a will.

Creating a will is one of the least expensive services a lawyer can provide, and there is little doubt that it is well worth the investment of your time and money.

Even though it may be an unpleasant task, in the end, your family will be glad you took the time to have a will drawn up by an experienced attorney.

Trey Goodwin is a Partner with Goodwin & Goodwin, Attorneys at Law, LLP in Canton. He is a native of Cherokee County, and a graduate of Florida State University and Oklahoma City University School of Law.

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